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Weekly Flylady Thread 25th November 2025
Natty68
Posts: 3,411 Forumite
Thank you, Valli, for last week's thread.
What is FLYLADY? Well, it's our version of the US flylady idea - but we work on the principle that housework is not fun, it's boring, can be time-consuming, is often thankless but, unfortunately, necessary. It's here on Old Style to provide the support we all need and to make the whole task easier and quicker. We also accept that, sometimes, life just gets on top of us and we can't keep up, maybe because we're time-poor, not in the best of health and/or we have littlies who need us. We are definitely NOT control freaks aiming for perfection and utterly spotless show-homes.
Welcome to the weekly Flylady Thread. You're more than welcome to join us in the everlasting battle against dust, grime and gibble. The aim of our thread is to make those onerous tasks less daunting, and to support each other - and to make time for the finer things in life!
Please do remember we have to abide by MSE rules; each post should, ideally, include some mention of flying.
It is your responsibility to read the forum rules, please follow them on this thread as Flylady has been here a LONG time and is a fabulous support and resource for lots of us.
Please follow the forum rules on this thread as Flylady has been here a LONG time and is a fabulous support and resource for lots of us. All posts should have some Flylady-related (ooh a compound adjective) content!
The idea is that even if you are really busy you don't need to fall off the wagon!
Every room comes back around next week so please don’t stress about catching up
These lists are only suggestions and not a must do list; you are more than welcome to post and follow your own lists.
Also adding a declutter mission each day will help to gradually clear the clutter and make flying asier.
A few of the basics before we start the week
Hotspots are areas where if one thing gets put there, loads of other things follow!
Daily routines are anything you need to do on a daily basis like washing, swish and swipe kitchen and bathroom, ironing, making beds, vacuuming high traffic areas, making meals etc.
Night-time routines are all things which make getting ready in the morning easier, preparing clothes for the next day, making lunches, swish & swipes of the kitchen and tidying the living room before you go to bed plus personals like shower/brush teeth etc.
Fling Boogie - stick on some loud music, grab a bin bag and whiz around the house finding items that can go out with the rubbish, recycling, for charity shop, basically anything that will stop it cluttering your home.
Swish and swipe/S&S means have a quick wipe over an area such as a sink or toilet to prevent the build up of dirt. This is usually done on a daily basis
HHE/HHC/HHI Half Hour exercise/challenge/ironing ... run around for 30 minutes to the Benny Hill music frantically cleaning exercising or ironing.. .other music may be used if you prefer!
WM ~ Washing machine
TD ~ Tumble dryer
SC ~ Slowcooker
BM ~ Breadmaker
DW ~ Dishwasher
SOAADFA ~ Sit on 'bottom' and do 'nothing'
KH/XH/FW ~ Ex-husband and other not so polite versions
DH/DD/DS/DW/DP ~ Dear husband/daughter/son/wife/partner/whatever
OH/SO ~ Other half/significant other
NN ~ nice neighbour
Toxic (friend/mother/sister/whoever) ~ person in your life that seems to exist to make your life miserable
AF ~ Aunt Flo 'time of the month'.. nothing to do with flying but it comes up often.
ETA ~ Edited to add
Gibble ~ miscellaneous crap that appears forever homeless
Dot-to-dot ~ pick a small area (not a whole room) like a chair/coffee/table/shelf/worktop or wherever- that’s your first 'dot' - totally clear it - clean it - and only put back what should be there - deal with what you have removed (not just move it somewhere else) then if you have time move on and do the same to another 'dot' -the idea is just like a dot to dot puzzle, you aim to join up all the dots and have a tidy room. The trick is to keep each dot tidy until you get them all joined up! All credit to AnW's Mum for this one
RoD ~ Room of Doom, the one room that feels like it is a permanent pit and cannot be used to its potential!
MAD half hour - Mad is the abbreviation for Make A Difference.
The idea is that you have a Forth bridge (ie never-ending - or just huge) task but that you work on it in half-hour bursts. This way you know you ARE stooping, and that you won't get it finished but you will make a difference - so it might be clearing out - the garage or shed, or clothes sorting, or weeding - you get the picture - but rather than keep going until you've lost the will to live you do half an hour...but, eventually those half hours will get the job done!
Mr S/A/T/M/L/Al - supermarkets Sainsburys, Asda, Tesco, Morrisons, Lidl, Aldi. You get the picture!!
Click here to read Toots wonderful welcome guide
Ok here goes this week!
What is FLYLADY? Well, it's our version of the US flylady idea - but we work on the principle that housework is not fun, it's boring, can be time-consuming, is often thankless but, unfortunately, necessary. It's here on Old Style to provide the support we all need and to make the whole task easier and quicker. We also accept that, sometimes, life just gets on top of us and we can't keep up, maybe because we're time-poor, not in the best of health and/or we have littlies who need us. We are definitely NOT control freaks aiming for perfection and utterly spotless show-homes.
Welcome to the weekly Flylady Thread. You're more than welcome to join us in the everlasting battle against dust, grime and gibble. The aim of our thread is to make those onerous tasks less daunting, and to support each other - and to make time for the finer things in life!
Please do remember we have to abide by MSE rules; each post should, ideally, include some mention of flying.
It is your responsibility to read the forum rules, please follow them on this thread as Flylady has been here a LONG time and is a fabulous support and resource for lots of us.
Please follow the forum rules on this thread as Flylady has been here a LONG time and is a fabulous support and resource for lots of us. All posts should have some Flylady-related (ooh a compound adjective) content!
The idea is that even if you are really busy you don't need to fall off the wagon!
Every room comes back around next week so please don’t stress about catching up
These lists are only suggestions and not a must do list; you are more than welcome to post and follow your own lists.
Also adding a declutter mission each day will help to gradually clear the clutter and make flying asier.
A few of the basics before we start the week
Hotspots are areas where if one thing gets put there, loads of other things follow!
Daily routines are anything you need to do on a daily basis like washing, swish and swipe kitchen and bathroom, ironing, making beds, vacuuming high traffic areas, making meals etc.
Night-time routines are all things which make getting ready in the morning easier, preparing clothes for the next day, making lunches, swish & swipes of the kitchen and tidying the living room before you go to bed plus personals like shower/brush teeth etc.
Fling Boogie - stick on some loud music, grab a bin bag and whiz around the house finding items that can go out with the rubbish, recycling, for charity shop, basically anything that will stop it cluttering your home.
Swish and swipe/S&S means have a quick wipe over an area such as a sink or toilet to prevent the build up of dirt. This is usually done on a daily basis
HHE/HHC/HHI Half Hour exercise/challenge/ironing ... run around for 30 minutes to the Benny Hill music frantically cleaning exercising or ironing.. .other music may be used if you prefer!
WM ~ Washing machine
TD ~ Tumble dryer
SC ~ Slowcooker
BM ~ Breadmaker
DW ~ Dishwasher
SOAADFA ~ Sit on 'bottom' and do 'nothing'
KH/XH/FW ~ Ex-husband and other not so polite versions
DH/DD/DS/DW/DP ~ Dear husband/daughter/son/wife/partner/whatever
OH/SO ~ Other half/significant other
NN ~ nice neighbour
Toxic (friend/mother/sister/whoever) ~ person in your life that seems to exist to make your life miserable
AF ~ Aunt Flo 'time of the month'.. nothing to do with flying but it comes up often.
ETA ~ Edited to add
Gibble ~ miscellaneous crap that appears forever homeless
Dot-to-dot ~ pick a small area (not a whole room) like a chair/coffee/table/shelf/worktop or wherever- that’s your first 'dot' - totally clear it - clean it - and only put back what should be there - deal with what you have removed (not just move it somewhere else) then if you have time move on and do the same to another 'dot' -the idea is just like a dot to dot puzzle, you aim to join up all the dots and have a tidy room. The trick is to keep each dot tidy until you get them all joined up! All credit to AnW's Mum for this one
RoD ~ Room of Doom, the one room that feels like it is a permanent pit and cannot be used to its potential!
MAD half hour - Mad is the abbreviation for Make A Difference.
The idea is that you have a Forth bridge (ie never-ending - or just huge) task but that you work on it in half-hour bursts. This way you know you ARE stooping, and that you won't get it finished but you will make a difference - so it might be clearing out - the garage or shed, or clothes sorting, or weeding - you get the picture - but rather than keep going until you've lost the will to live you do half an hour...but, eventually those half hours will get the job done!
Mr S/A/T/M/L/Al - supermarkets Sainsburys, Asda, Tesco, Morrisons, Lidl, Aldi. You get the picture!!
Click here to read Toots wonderful welcome guide
Ok here goes this week!
Monday ~ Lovely Living Room, Happy Hall and Safe
Stairs
Level One...
Declutter all these areas
Vacuum these areas
Level Two...
Wipe/vacuum sofas
Clean windows in these areas, check curtains/nets/blinds while you are there,
do they need a clean?
Dust any areas below eye level
Level Two...
Dust anything above eye level (if safe to do so)
Clear anything that shouldn't be where it is, should the magazines really be on
the floor?
Wash any soft furnishings in need
Binbag dance
Tidy coats/shoes bags etc
Extra Mission Tasks~ if you want to do more
- Clean windows in these areas, check curtains/nets/blinds while you are there, do they need a clean?
- Check
you have your Christmas card list done, if it's not done at least spend 10
minutes on it
- Spend 15 minutes sorting paperwork, dealing with anything urgent NOW
- Spend half an hour doing something for yourself
- 27 Fling Boogie, you know the routine, grab a bag and clear that clutter!
- Clean out the vacuum cleaner, empty the bag/bucket, clean filters if they are washable MAKE SURE YOU DON'T PUT THEM BACK UNTIL THEY ARE DRY!
Tuesday ~ Kitchen and dining room
Level One...
Clear and wipe work surfaces
Wipe down all the major appliances.. clean filters/drawers/seals etc
Wipe over the cupboards fronts and kickboards
Level Two...
Wipe the tables and replace the cloth if necessary
Sweep and mop the floors
Run appliances through a 'clean' wash
Deweb and defluff these rooms
Level Three...
Clear and mop/vacuum the floors
Scrub down the dining chairs..
Binbag dance! Grab a binbag.. fill it up.. and chuck it out!
Clean the oven.. and the shelves!
Extras - help yourself!
- Wipe and replace ALL the small appliances
- Empty and wash out bins
- S&S the fridge
- Clear out a manky cupboard
- Check the freezer, see what needs using up
- If you want a christmas supermarket delivery you need to book it this week!
Wednesday ~ Master Bedrooms and Landings
Level One...
Remove floordrobe, make sure all clothes are put away neatly
Level Two...
Strip bed linen and wash, replace with clean linen
Vacuum floors in these areas
Level Two...
Vacuum mattress
Clean tops of drawers
Extra mission tasks, as always if you fancy an extra challenge try one or
more of these
- Clean windows in these areas
- Check through drawers, anything that should have been thrown out ages ago?
- Cobweb removal upstairs, go on grab a duster and swipe them down
- Clean a set of curtains, nets or blinds
- Clean light fittings and light switches in any room, more than one if you like
- Plan your shopping list for your christmas goodies...only 24 days till the big day...
Thrilling Thursday - Study/PC area and Bathrooms
Level One...
Clean floors in these rooms
Level Two...
Clean baths, toilets and sinks
Clear any clutter from desk
Dust PC and desk and wipe off those cup rings!!
Wipe keyboard, house phone, sockets, switches and mouse etc
Level Three...
Wash your bathroom mats
Wipe down tiles in bathroom
Delete 10 links in your favourites which you no longer use or don't work
Clean shower screen/curtain if you have one/if required
Extra tasks list, as usual choose one or more
- Write those christmas cards and sort stamps for those to be posted
- Clear a hotspot, if it's bad at least spend 10 minutes on it
- Clean windows in these rooms
- Check house for places where draughts are getting in such as doors, windows etc and see if there are ways to stop it
- Clean out that airing cupboard, get rid of those things you don't need, you can use dead towels as cleaning cloths etc be ruthless! Yes this means parting with the 'just in case' things you have kept and you'll never use!
- Clean the toilet bowl on the outside and the floor in front of it, especially for those with little boys!
Friday!!~ those frightening kids rooms and spare
rooms!
Level One...
Declutter the floors
Level Two...
Clear away anything that isn't in it's place, clothes, toys, books etc
Dusting.. all those shelves and flat surfaces!! Don’t forget the light shade
and curtain pole!!!
Put all the discs in their boxes and the books on the shelves and the toys in
the chests!
Sort through a chest of drawers/wardrobe and fling anything that no longer
fits.
Vacuum the floor, even if it's just where you can see
Level Three...
Strip beds, turn and vacuum mattresses!! and replace with fresh linen .. check
if duvets need freshening up too!!
Wipe any sticky marks off walls and doors
Drag the junk from under the bed and put it in its proper homes.
Fill a binbag for charity shop.. Santa will be here in 30 days so make some
space!
Dust and vacuum and wipe of sticky grotty bits.
Tidy a box of 'stuff'
Binbag dance!.. See how many toys you can fling before the large guy in red
arrives.
Extras
- HHI
- Check through what decorations etc you have and what needs replacing/buying/finding, check lights etc
- Catch up on yesterdays list! We keep getting behind!
- Update spreadsheets.. meal plans, finances etc
- Scrub your grill pan..
- Clean where your Christmas tree and any other decorations are going.
- Contact anyone you don't have address for for Christmas cards
- Check what else you need to buy or make for Christmas presents
- Wipe over ALL the upstairs doors!!
Mortgage Free as of 20.9.17
Declutter challenge 2023, 2024 🏅 🏅⭐️⭐️DH declutter challenge award 🏅⭐️
8
Comments
-
Morning all xx
Thank you Valli and Natty as always 😘
Ooo first in. I'm up and dressed because the man is coming to fit the electricity smart meter between 8 and 12. I've made my bed, got weighed* and made a brew.
*A pound on this week. I need to buckle down again and get some more chubbage off before Chrimbo.
Round 1
Feed the birds
Put out the recycling
Laundry shuffle
WUDUPA
Wash towels/ tea towels
Write Christmas cards
Update lists with what's been ordered
PO
Pay rent
Pay C Tax
Pay leccy bill
Buy Christmas cards for Pops, DS etc.
Have a good week.
RxxIT ONLY TAKES SMALL DAILY ACTIONSFOR MAGIC TO HAPPENRosemary Ikpeme
9 -
Thank you for the new thread, Natty - I shall be flying this week, as far as possible, between social events!
We have had a lovely weekend with DS2&co. We didn’t do a great deal because of the weather, but I watched DGS4 at his swimming lesson, we went to café church with them yesterday, and in the evening I cooked a roast dinner. Unfortunately I ruined the hm Xmas pud by overestimating the time needed to reheat it in the MW, but there were plenty of yummy brownies to make up for it.
Got up early this morning to say goodbye to DGS3 and DDiL2 who left for school and college before 7.30. A quiet moment with a cuppa, then we will get dressed, have breakfast, wave goodbye to DGS4, pack (not forgetting to pick up our share of the leftover roast), strip the beds, give DS2 a final hug, and leave him to wfh in peace. It’s almost sunny, and we plan to stop off at a NT property on the way home for coffee or even lunch, so that I can give Rosie a walk. We might also take a guided tour.
Hope everyone dries out quickly and has a good start to the week xxx10 -
Morning all
We finally have dry weather so I shall be pegging out washing before I leave for the paid stuff. Got a lot on this week but I hope to manage some flying on Tuesday afternoon and Thursday. Taking mum to a dermatology appointment tomorrow.
Done 1 x WM to add to the pile.
Swimming later IF my tummy behaves. Yesterday was not good, though I did manage to sit and complete my jumper, the neckband has been on my to do list for weeks. Bonus is my knitting now fits in my knitting bag.
Hope everyone has a good day!Don't put it DOWN; put it AWAY"I would like more sisters, that the taking out of one, might not leave such stillness" Emily Dickinson
Janice 1964-2016
Thank you Honey Bear10 -
I hope your tummy treats you more kindly today Valli, and thank you for the lists Natty.More mopping up after Wren last night so I put a dirty load through the WM as there has been rather a lot of that lately. Half of it's already dry this mroning, the thin stuff that I can dry in the house overnight, and Belovéd pegged out the rest this morning as it's sunny here. That won't last so we have to make the most of it.Rapid loaf in the BM so we can have bread with soup for lunch and we're off to get our post civil partnership wills signed today.Flying will be clearing my desk once again, making up the double and finish making up the superking, and a large selection of five minute jobs. I'd also like to clear 1000 emails because my Inbox is cluttered at the moment.Better is good enough.10
-
Ironing done and awayFire donePatios swept offDeer / birds / cats fedKitchen doneMince out of freezer to make bol tonightHave a good dayThank you for the thread.Breast Cancer Now 100 miles October 2022 100 / 100miles
D- Day 80km June 2024 80/80km (10.06.24 all done)
Diabetic UK 1 million steps July 2024 to complete by end Sept 2024. 1,001,066/ 1,000,000 (20.09.24 all done)Sun, Sea10 -
Thank you for the new thread.
My list for today
Attend uni lectures
Do paid stuff
Dust the living room
Hoover the living room
Sort through paperwork - schedule appointments etc.
Spend an hour on exam revision
HH me time
Think that is everything that I need to get done today. Hope everyone has a lovely Monday.8 -
Been swimming. Have come out to a message from my niece who cares for my mum a couple of days a week. She's gone home with mum's blue badge. I'm taking her to the hospital tomorrow. Apparently 'it shouldn't be a problem' well it is - because now I can't use the blue badge car park at all so I will probably struggle to find a parking space. I am not happy.Don't put it DOWN; put it AWAY"I would like more sisters, that the taking out of one, might not leave such stillness" Emily DickinsonJanice 1964-2016
Thank you Honey Bear8 -
Neither am I happy my chain saw is broken, the nearest place to get it serviced by recommended service agent is Nottingham!! really........................
Breast Cancer Now 100 miles October 2022 100 / 100miles
D- Day 80km June 2024 80/80km (10.06.24 all done)
Diabetic UK 1 million steps July 2024 to complete by end Sept 2024. 1,001,066/ 1,000,000 (20.09.24 all done)Sun, Sea10 -
Had a text from L asking if we could meet up this afti at posh farm shop cafe. So we did. Her husband has printed off some wedding photos for me 😍roundtuit said:
Round 1
Feed the birds ✅
Put out the recycling ✅
Laundry shuffle ✅
WUDUPA
Wash towels/ tea towels ✅
Write Christmas cards - started
Update lists with what's been ordered
PO
Pay rent ✅
Pay C Tax ✅
Pay leccy bill ✅
Buy Christmas cards for Pops, DS etc.✅
Had a text from a colleague saying we are wearing Christmas jumpers on Friday. Eh? I thought Christmas Jumper Day was 12th December?? Anyhoo. I've purchased a Christmas t shirt. Which I'll wear on Friday, and 12th December and Christmas Day. (Jumpers make me twot).
Electricity smart meter was fitted before 10 am. It still says Inactive and 00000 so I'm not convinced it's working but 🤷♀️ it's in.
P & S called for coffee this morning.
I'm invited to DS and DDil for lunch on Christmas Day. Nom nom.
And breathe....
Rxx
IT ONLY TAKES SMALL DAILY ACTIONSFOR MAGIC TO HAPPENRosemary Ikpeme10 -
Monday ~ Lovely Living Room, Happy Hall and Safe Stairs
Level One...
✔️Declutter all these areas
✔️Vacuum these areas
Level Two...
✔️Wipe/vacuum sofas
❌️Clean windows in these areas, check curtains/nets/blinds while you are there, do they need a clean?
✔️Dust any areas below eye level
Level Two...
✔️Dust anything above eye level (if safe to do so)
✔️Clear anything that shouldn't be where it is, should the magazines really be on the floor?
❌️Wash any soft furnishings in need
❌️Binbag dance
✔️Tidy coats/shoes bags etc
Eltee's extras
✔️S&S kitchen & bathroom
✔️1 cupboard off MAD list! 🐸
🙂Found it! Thanks Valli
Old Style Weight Loss Challenge - 4th Quarter 2024 2/7
Current MAD project/frogs - declutter & deep-clean kitchen cupboards, drawers & cubby holes. Started 28/103/11 cupboards3/3 drawers4/5 cubby holes9
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